In this dissertation I explore the fugitive technology practices of Black high-schoolers in a tech-rich after-school makerspace. To do so, I invoke ontologies from two cyborgs to make sense of these Black teens' practices. First, James and Costa Vargas (2012) offer the Black Cyborg-- the rebel intellectual rejecting victimization through…

The COVID-19 pandemic devastated student achievement, with declines rivaling those after Hurricane Katrina. These losses widened achievement gaps between historically marginalized students and their peers. Three years later, achievement remains behind pre-pandemic levels for many students. This paper examines 2022-23 academic recovery efforts…

The issue brief spotlights five exemplary afterschool programs that embody these essential characteristics in their programming and strategies to re-engage students. Down in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the Baton Rouge Youth Coalition (BRYC) connects 8th-12th grade students with a "nucleus of adult support," including mentors, counselors, and…

In 2021, China issued the "Double Reduction" (DR) policy to reduce the within- and outside-school burden on students. The policy requires all compulsory education schools to provide after-school services such as homework tutoring and well-rounded development activities for willing students. Based on student survey data from 13 schools in…

Objectives: In 2011, the National Afterschool Association adopted the Healthy Eating and Physical Activity (HEPA) standards to address snack quality and physical activity in afterschool programs. Although research has indicated promise in the adoption of these policies by national organizations, less is known about local adoption, implementation,…

Student success and achievement in afterschool programs depend on caring adults who go above and beyond to make children feel that they are special and can achieve anything (Akhavan, Emery, Shea, & Taha-Resnick, 2017). In the Oxnard (California) School District, where the author is the afterschool grant manager, many of the 200 staff in the…

The purpose of this instrumental case study was to investigate the perceptions of preservice music teachers learning popular music and facilitating popular music learning experiences with elementary students in an after-school music program. Preservice music teachers enrolled in a popular music pedagogy course learned techniques for teaching and…

The application of computer-aided teaching and learning approaches is not uncommon in many school environments. However, due to the traditional practices, most of the practice-based courses have still relied on face-to-face teaching methods. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, most programmes have been moved to the online platform. With the case…

Mechanisms supporting global learning and global citizenship continue to be incorporated as curricular and co-curricular components of undergraduate education in the United States. Global learning promotes critical thinking and problem-solving and intercultural competency -- skills that studies find are highly prized among employers. However, few…

Background/Context: Computer programming is rarely accessible to K-12 students, especially for those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Middle school age is a transitioning time when adolescents are more likely to make long-term decisions regarding their academic choices and interests. Having access to productive and positive…

Preparing students with robust life skills, including social-emotional skills, is of paramount importance in today's world, particularly for children growing up in adversity. Dream a Dream was founded by 11 young people who wanted to engage with children who were terminally ill, abandoned, or HIV infected. The idea was to organize activities and…

This paper aims to provide strategies for youth-serving organizations to maximize opportunities for youth to develop leadership skills within the out-of-school time program context. The sample includes 5 youth-serving agencies who participated in the Youth Driven Spaces initiative led by a Midwest program. Data for this project included…

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress made a once-in-a-generation investment in afterschool and summer learning programs with the potential to provide supports and opportunities for children and youth across America. At the same time, after 2 decades of development, networks in all 50 states were poised to advise and support the…

It has been suggested that culturally relevant literature can be beneficial to elementary school students' learning. Yet, less research has focused on African American students' perspectives of that literature, including aspects of that engagement that may benefit their learning. Therefore, the main goal centred on US elementary school students'…

This study described the lived experiences of fifteen African American male college students and their perception of their high school academics. The purpose of this qualitative study was to describe the lived experiences of African American male college students on the factors promoting and inhibiting their academic achievement. In addition, this…